The role of Batman remains a covered one in Hollywood, with many actors auditioning throughout the years. Among fans, it’s common knowledge that action star Scott Adkins threw his hat in the ring for Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In fact, it was this very website that posted the video of Adkins’ audition.
While the part went to Ben Affleck in the end, that hasn’t stopped the debates or calls for Adkins to receive another chance in the DC Universe’s upcoming Batman reboot, The Brave and the Bold, which is set to be directed by The Flash director Andy Muschietti. Whether it happens or not is another story, though. That said, more people in the film industry are coming out and showing their support for Adkins for all the hard work he has done over the years in establishing himself as one of the premier action movie stars in the world.
What has Scott Adkins said about playing Batman?
In a 2023 interview with Men’s Health, Scott Adkins opened up about his history with Batman. Surprisingly, it’s deeper than most people imagine. Before he auditioned for 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, he received the chance to appear in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises – the final film of the iconic trilogy. Adkins was set to double for both Tom Hardy’s Bane and Christian Bale’s Batman and handle the fight scenes in the movie – he even put on the fabled Batsuit. After rehearsing for nearly two months, Adkins tore his ACL during one rehearsal and was forced to exit the production.
The heartache continued in 2013 when he auditioned for Zack Snyder’s superhero film. Adkins admitted he didn’t think he would get the part, but it was the big one that he wanted to land in his career. In fact, he still harbours hope that it may happen one day.
Making a case for Scott Adkins as Batman
One person who has worked with Scott Adkins on numerous productions is director Isaac Florentine. The filmmaker directed Adkins in action extravaganzas such as 2009’s Ninja and 2010’s Undisputed III: Redemption. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Florentine explained why he believes Adkins deserves more praise and bigger roles than what he gets.
“Scott should have been James Bond, he should have been Batman,” he said. “Because people will see someone who not only can act, but can move like nobody else, with no stunt guys and no doubles. He deserves to be a mainstream star.”
While Batman is a role that Adkins has been attached to, it’s interesting that Florentine mentions Bond. It’s another part that the actor has expressed interest in and it would certainly be a bold choice to see a bona fide martial artist as 007 in a future film. Again, if it happens is anyone’s guess.
The Dark Knight should be a good martial artist
Look, let’s face it: While the Batman films have featured good action and memorable scenes, has anyone showed off the sort of training that Bruce Wayne would have learned from the League of Assassins and numerous masters around the world? The answer is a hard no. There hasn’t been a Batman on screen who looks like he could take Chuck Norris in a fight – and that’s a pity.
Scott Adkins fits the mould for someone who not only looks like Bruce Wayne, but he can also fight like Batman should. Also, he’s more than proven himself in blockbuster films such as John Wick 4, so why not give him the keys to the Batmobile now? He certainly couldn’t be any worse than George Clooney was in the part…
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Tell us, would you like to see Scott Adkins as Batman? Let us know in the comments.
